Bobbin clutch



May 23, 1933. G. H. MAGRATH BOBBIN CLUTCH Filed April 3, 1931 2Sheets-Sheet l G. H. MAGRATH BOBBIN CLUTCH May 23, 1933.

Filed April 3. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 23, 1933 ion". 5,.

rename BQBB'I onnron 'n iicati n mea Apri 13, 1913 1 Serial No. 527,599;

This application is a'continuation inpart of application, Serial No.1353, f1 28, filed April 8, 1929.

This invention relates'to a clutch-by which.

a bobbin may be centered on a spinnmg or twisting spindle and:frictionally rotated thereby l i i w It is the general object of myinventionto provide a bobbin clutch oi'an improved and simplifiedconstruction, by which the-bob bin may be accurately centered withrespect to the axis of the spindle and by which it may be rotated withthe oesired: driving force. l p I Y1 I A further object of my inventionis 'to' pro vide a bobbin clutch which has relatively few and simpleparts, all of which maybe easily and economically manufactured; Theclutch thus constructed :is reliable andncer a-in in operation and isexceptionally? free from ac 'idental breakage of partswhcnin use. I s yMy invention further relates'to arrangements and combinations of partswhichwill be hereinafter described'and more" particularly pointed out inthe appendedeclaimsej In the drawings: I 3;

Fig. l is an elevatioin-partly in section, of portions of a spindleembodying 'lhyvlflb provenients; I i 1 4 Fig. 2 is a side elevation ofcasing menu ber; I a Fig. 3 is a plan View of certainizparts, looking inthe directionjof the' arrow S'in Figs. 4: and 5 are sideand frontelevations of one of the spring. clutchifingers; Fig. 6 is a planrviewof the retainin cap; Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. l-but showing amodified i orin' o'fconstruction;

S is a section along the line 88 of R1 w 1 19;. 9 is'a combined-viewlllustratlng 1n irontand in edge elevation acontactseg ment; I

Fig. 10 is a central vertical section .tlirdugh the clutch shown in Fig.7, illustrating' a bobbin mounted thereon; an i i FigY-ll is a sideelevation, pa'rtly'in seet-io 'n of the casing forming apart of theclutch illustrated in Figs. 7 to 10. f s

Referring to Figs. 1 to 6 of the drawings,

I'have shown a spindle comprising a blade lOh'avinga whirl 11 fixedthereon. The 55 whirl 11 is preferably provided with'an upwardlyprojectingend or hub portion 12 Efm-id with an annular recess 13 in itsupper ace. I I I I A casing member 15 is firmly mounted on the blade 10above the whirl'll and is slotted in its lower portion, as indicated at16,:thus providing depending parts 18 which extend downward and engagethe-bottom otthe annular recess 13 when the parts are assembled. I v rSpring clutch fingers 20 are formed as indicated'in Figs. 4 and 5, thefingers being in general substantially L-shaped, withlaterallyprojecting arms 21 at their lower ends and with offsetprojections 22'at their upper ends.

In assembling the parts, the fingers2O are inserted in the slots 16 andtheolfset ends 22 of the fingers project upward into a recess 24 abovethe slots 16. A retaining member or'cap 26 is then forced downwardlyover the periphery'of the whirl 11 and engages the outwardly projectingportions 21 of the spring fingers. 1 i

The fingers-.20" are so shaped that such engagement by the cap 26 placesthe upper p'ortions of the fingers 20 under tension, said upper endsbeing firmly pressed outward as far-as is permitted by the-engagement ofthe projections 22 with the flange 25 surrounding the recess 24. I I 7'1 The fingers 20 are formed ofresilient material' preferably steel,which ishardened and 'tempered after the fingers are shaped. 9 WVh'enthe bobbin B is placed on the blade 10 and is'forced downward,thefingers 20; will beengaged by the inner'wall30 of the butt of thebobbin and will be forced slightly inward to the position indicated inFig. 1, in which'position they will firmly center the bobbin andwillprovide the desired 'frictional driving engagement therewith. Each ofthefingers isindependently formed and separately movable, withfeaturescontribute 'which diverge preferably at an acute angle.

The arms 38 are adapted. to, seat in, the annular recess 36 and areclamped firmly in this recess by the retaining upper flange of the capmember 39 which issecured; to the whirl preferably by being a. drivingfit thereon. Thus the upper flange of the cap member and base of therecess 36 provide opposed clamping surfaces which maintain the outwardly directed armsj38 of the spring memhere substantially fixed uponand rigid with the whirl and therefore rigid with the blade 33.

The contact segments 41 have their upper. ends curved inwardly toprovide. 'upwardly directed lips 42 which extend within the annularrecess 34: in the casing member and are retained in this recess by thedepending annular wall thereof. The lower ends of these contact segmentsfit within,

the circular opening in the top flange or wall of the cap-member '39 andhave their outward movement limited by thisportion of the cap member.Preferably-the casing 31 is of the type illustrated in Fig. 11 in whichslots 43 extend longitudinally toward the whirl for receiving thecontact segments, the material forming these slots providing fingers 44which maintain the contact segments in circumferentially spaced relationabout the blade. The lower ends of the fingers 44 extend to a positionslightly below and within the opening in the top wall of the cap member39 and the slots 43 are formed to fit closely about the contact segments41 so as to, be eifectiveffor guiding the latter for movement toward andfrom the blade in an approximately radial direction.

The arms 37 of the springs extend longitudinally [of the blade behindthe contact segments and incline upwardly toward the latter, these armsengaging the segments at points intermediate the ends thereof.Preferably the arms 37 are proportioned to terminate toward-the upperends of the segments at the points where" engagement is effected as thisprovides relatively long and resilient spring arms which have smoothand' easy and yet firm engagement, providing a very desirable clutchingaction.QWhile the longitudinal arms 37 of the spring preferably havetheir free ends in direct engagement with the segments intermediate theends of the latter and these arms are inclined with respect to the axisof the blade to render this engagement more effective, it will beevident that in some instances it may be desirable to have the arms 37extend substantially parallel to the blade, in which event they may beprovided with lugs or other protuberances, as with outturned endportions, for engagement with the segments.

In assembling the apparatus of the type disclosed in Figs. 7 to 11inclusive, the spring members 37 are disposed about the whirlwith theiroutwardly directed arms 38 properly spaced in the annular recess 36 inthe upper surface of the whirl. The cap member 39 is then appliedand'caused firmly to engage these arms 38 and to clamp the same securelyto the whirl. The casing 31 is thenapplied to the blade 33 andpositioned so that the lower ends of the fingers extend within thecircular opening in the top of the cap member and the spring arms 37project upwardly and outwardly into the slots 43. The segments 41 maythen be applied by pushing the upper ends of these segments into theslots and across the free upper ends of the spring arms 37, bending thelatter inwardly and then pressing on the lower portions ofthe-segmentsto cause the free lower ends thereof to enter the space between thecircular opening in the cap 39 and the associated spring member.

All parts of the bobbin clutch maybe cheaply and easily manufactured andthe spring fingers may be easily removed and replaced iffor any reasonrenewal becomes necessary.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that in each modification thesprings have their outwardly disposed legs maintained substantiallyrigid with the blade due to the clamping action of the cap and-thewhirl, and this manner of mounting the outwardly disposed arms causesthe longitudinal or upwardly directed arms to exert an outward orapproximately radialpressure which is applied torthe bobbin forretaining the latter. Thus, while in one instance the springs havedirect engagement with the bobbin chamber and in the other instancethese springs act on the segments to cause the latter to engage thebobbin, in each case advantages of the springs are embodiedin the newstructure, resutling in the improved mode of operation. The outwardmovement of the free upper ends of the fingers is limited by the casingineach embodiment, by direct engagement with the casing inthe firstembodiment and by indircet engagement through the segments in the secondembodiment. r

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purposeof illustration only and that this invention includes all modificationsand equivalents which fall. within the scope of thea-ppended claims.

I claim: I

1. In a spindle clutch construction comprising blade, a contact segmentdisposed longitudinally of the blade, and means for supporting thecontact segment for movei ment toward and from the blade and forlimiting outward movement of the contact segment relative to the blade,the combination of a unitary spring member, comprising diverging arms,one arm being disposed approximately longitudinally between the bladeand the contact segment and engaging the latter, the other arm extendingoutwardly beyond the contact segment, and means for holding the latterarm substantially rigid with the blade, whereby the longitudinallydisposed arm may be caused to bear against the contact segment with ayielding pressure.

2. In a spindle clutch construction comprising a blade, a'contactsegment disposed longitudinally oi the blade, and means forsupporting the contact segment for move ment toward and from the bladeand for limiting outward movement of the contact segment relative to theblade, the combination of a unitary spring member, comprising armsdiverging at an acute angle, one arm extending longitudinally of theblade and between the latter and the contact segmen-t, this arm iiclining outwardly from the blade and engaging the segment, the other armextending outwardly beyond the ,con tact segment substantiall Y radiallyoi the blade, and means for holding the latter arm substantially rigidwith the blade, whereby the longitudinally disposed arm 'may be causedto bear against the contact segment with a yielding pressure. 1

3. In a spindle clutch comprising a blade, a whirl mounted thereon,contact segments disposed longitudinally of the blade and spaced aboutthe latter, and'means for retaining the segments and for supportingthesame -for movement transversely of the blade, the combination of meansfor urging the segments outwardly comprising resilient arms extendinglongitudinally of the blade and spaced circumferentially thereabout forengagement with the segments, each resilient arm having a base portionunited there with and extending outwardly of the blade, and means forsecuring the base portions to the whirl, so that the arms may be causedto bear with a yielding pressure on the segments. i

l. In a spindle clutch comprising a blade, a whirl mounted thereon,contact segments disposed longitudinally of the blade and spaced aboutthe latter, and means, for retaining the segments and for supporting thesame for movement transversely of the blade,

a whirl mounted thereon, contact segments disposedlongitudinally of theblade'and spaced about the latter, and means for retaining-the segmentsand "for supporting the same for movement transversely of the blade, thecombination of-means for urging the segments outwardly comprising springmembers having unitary diverging arms, one arm of each spring memberbeing disposed longitudinally of the blade and. in engagement withasegment, the other arm of each spring member extending outwardly acrossthe whirl, and means for securing the latter arms to the. whirl, wherebythe first-mentioned arms may be caused to bear with a yic ding pressureon the segments for urging thelatter'outwardly.'

' 6. In a spindle clutch comprising a blade, a whirl mounted thereon,contact segments disposed longitudinally of the blade and spaced aboutthe latteiyand means for retainin the segments and for supporting thesame ror movement transversely of the blade, the combination of meansfor urging the segments outwardly comprising spring members havingunitary diverging arms, one arm ofeach spring memberbeing disposedlongitudinally of the blade and inclined out wardly toward a segment forengagement therewith, the other arm of each spring mem; ber extendingoutwardly at an acute angle o the longitudinal arm and across the whirl,and means for, securing the outwardly extending arms to the whirl,whereby the first-mentioned. arms may be caused to bear with a yieldingpressure on the segments for urging the latter outwardly.

7. A spindle clutch comprisinga blade, whirl and easing members mountedthereon in axially spaced relation, these members. having opposedrecesses therein, contactv seg ments disposed longitudinally about theblade and mounted in the opposed recesses of the whirl and easingmembers, a spring member associated with each se 'ment and comprising aresilient arm extencing longitudinally'oi theblade and between thelatter and the segment, each of these ari'ns extending Olltwlldlyfrom'the blade toengage the segment with which it is associated, a baseportion'unitary with each of these arms and extendingoutwardlyacrossthewhirl beyond the segment, and means for maintaining each baseportion firmly mounted-on and substantiallyrigid with the whirl, wherebythe resilient-arms may be maintained elfective forlurging thesegmentsoutwardly.

8. A spindle clutch comprising 'a blade, whirl and easing membersmounted thereon in axially spaced relation, these members having opposedrecesses therein, contact segments disposed longitudinally about theblade and mounted in the opposed recesses of the whirland casingmembers, a spring member associated with each segment and comprising aresilient arm extending longitudinally of the blade, and between thelatter and the segment, each of these arms terminating intermediate theends of the segment with which it is associated and inclining outwardlyfrom the blade and having its free end portion bearing against thesegment, a base portion unitary with each of these arms and extendingoutwardly across the end of the segment and across the whirl beyond theSegment, and means for maintaining each base portion firmly mounted onand substantially rigid with the whirl, whereby the resilient arms maybe maintained effective for urging the segments outwardly.

9. A bobbin clutch compri ing a blade, a whirl on the blade, acasing-mounted on the blade with longitudinal slots in its periphery,mechanism acting through the slots for frictionally holding abobbin,said mechanism including spring fingers, and clamping means atthe upperend of the whirl for clamping the spring fin ers between theend of the whirl and the cramping means, said mechanismincluding partswhiehproject upwardly inside the upper edges of said slots to limit theaction of'said spring fingers.

10. A bobbin clutch comprising a blade, a wnirl on the blade, :1 casingmounted on the blade with depending fingers defining longitudinal slotstherebetween, mechanism acting through the slots for frictionallyholding a bobbin, said mechanism including spring fingers, and clampingmeans at the upper end of the whirl for clamping the spring fingersbetween the end of the whirl and the clamping means, the whirl havingintegral spacing means projecting upwardly from its upper end close tothe bladefor holding said mechanism in spaced relation to the bladc,

and said casing fingers projecting downwardly between said clzunping andspacing means. v

1 1. A bobbin clutch comprising a blade, a whirl on the blade, a casingmounted on the blade with depending fingers defining longitudinal slotstherebetween, mechanism for frictionally holding a bobbin, saidmechanism including L-shaped spring fingers, clamping means at the upperend of the whirl for clamping said spring fingers between the end of thewhirland' the clamping means, and means projecting upwardly and engagingthe inner edgesofythe casing for slots for frictionally holding abobbin, said mechanism including spring means, and clamping means at theupper end of the whirl for clamping the spring means between the end ofthe whirl and the clamping means, and means for limiting the action ofsaid spring means. 1

13. A bobbin clutch comprising a blade, a whirl on the blade, a casingmounted on the blade having longitudinal slots in its periphery, andmechanism acting through said slotsfor frietionally holding a, bobbin,said mechanism including'contaet surfaces movable radially of said bladethrough said slots and normally arranged to engage the inner peripheryof the bobbin and spring means for controlling said surfaces, a cap onthe end of the whirl, said cap pressing said spring means toward thewhirl to cause the spring means yieldingly to hold said contact surfacesin "position to engage the bobbin, and means for limiting the outwardmovement of said contact surfaces relative to said'blade.

14. A bobbin clutch comprising a blade, a whirl mounted on the blade, acasing mounted on the blade with depending fin; gers defininglongitudinal slots therebetween, mechanism for frictionally holding abobbin, said mechanism including contact surfaces movable radially ofthe blade through said slots and resilient means for yieldingly holdingsaid contact surfaces in position to engage the inner periphery of thebobbin, clamping'means mounted on the upper end of the whirl, saidclamping means pressing said resilient means toward the whirl andholding the same in position, and means for limiting the outwardmovement of said contact surfaces relative to the blade.

15. A bobbin clutch comprising a blade, a whirl mounted on the blade, acasing mounted on the blade with depending fingers defining longitudinalslots therebetween, mechanism for frictionally holding a bobbin, saidmechanism including cont-act surfaces movable radially ofthe bladethrough said slots and resilient means for urging said contact surfacesoutwardly through said slots, a cap mounted on the upper end of thewhirl. having an interior flange pressing said resilient means towardthe upper end of the whirl, said cap holding said resilient means inposition yieldingly to'urge said contact surfaces outwardly against theinner periphery of the bobbin, and-means for limiting the outwardmovement of said contact surfaces relative to said blade.

16. A bobbin clutch comprising a blade, a whirl mounted on the blade, acasing mounted on the blade with depending fingers defining longitudinalslots therebetween, and mechanism for frictionally holding a bobbin,said mechanism including contact members fulcrumed at the upper end ofthe whirl to move radially of the blade through said slots, said membershaving parts which project upwardly inside the upper edges of said slotsto limit the outward movement of said members, resilient means forurging said contact members outwardly through said slots, and a capmounted on the upper end of the whirl having an interior annular flangepressing said resilient means toward the upper end of the whirl, saidcap holding said resilient means in position yieldingly to urge saidcontact members outwardly against the inner periphery of the bobbin.

Signed by me at WVhitinsville, Massachusetts this 31st day of March,1931.

GEORGE H. MAGRATH.

